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Distance from Beirut: 30km Altitude: 1250 The name of the town is attributed to Darius, a Persian prince of king who used to go hunting in the area. He would pitch his tent by a spring (ain), which led to the village site named Ain Darrius (later modified to Ain Dara). Some trace the word Dara back to the Aramaic Language, in which it means “dwellings.” Aramaic rock inscriptions have been found in the Taryoush area, in addition to the remains of an ancient temple, some pillars, a basin and other antiquities. Still standing in Ain Dara are the ruins of two watchtowers that were used during the famous battle of Ain Dara between the Kaisseyeen and the Yamaneyeen. There are also some very old buildings, such as the Maronite Church of Mar Gerges (St. Georges) and the Orthodox Church of Mar Gerges. Ain Dara is noted as well for its abundance of springs

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Villages

Aitanit The name Aytanit most likely derives from the Phoenician goddess Tanit. A main water source is located in the center of the village surrounded by a large rock with Roman inscriptions. One of the most important sites in this town is the Roman cave which is actually a hypogeum ...Read More

Bab Mareh This town is situated on the eastern slope of the Shouf mountain and it is surrounded by oak trees. Its name comes from “Baith Mares” a place name found on an inscription on a gold oil lamp in 1950 near the spring of Aattouneh (العطونة) dating back to ...Read More

Saghbine The water spring of Ain Shouaa is 1 km from the village in a picnic area whereas the spring of Ain el Ghazireh is located near the center of the village. In the center one can also see old rock basins that were used for the preparation of grape ...Read More

Khirbet Kanafar Khirbet Qanafar has two watermills one of which is earlier than 16th century and they operate on the flow of Nabe’ el Khraizet to grind wheat into flour. Mat-hanet el Jawze is the oldest watermill but it has deteriorated and can only be distinguish by its ruins. However, ...Read More

Ain Zebde The main source of water in Ain Zebde is a natural spring surrounded by old walnut trees whose water is used for irrigation. The water mill of Nahr el Chawaghir dates back to the Ottoman period and was powered by the flow of water from Nahr el Chawaghir ...Read More

Kefraya Kefraya has a Romano-Byzantine grape mill located among the agricultural terraces outside the center of the village. Visiting the Dahr el Moghor hypogea (underground dwellings) from the Roman and Byzantine era near the Boustros palace is a must. The five hypogea are dug into the rock of a small ...Read More

Qab Elias The most important monument in this town is the famous Ottoman castle which overlooks the Bekaa and was built to control the road that linked Beirut and the Shouf to the Bekaa valley. In 1625, Emir Fakhreddin destroyed an older palace that stood there and constructed this castle ...Read More

Ammiq/Deir Tahnish The ruins of old Ammiq (Khirbet’ Ammiq – يقّ ) خربة عم are located on the eastern slopes of Mount Lebanon overlooking the West Bekaa. One can see the ruins of old stone houses that date back to the Ottoman period and the first half of the 20th ...Read More

Niha Niha has been inhabited since the Roman times. The most famous monument in Niha is the cave fortress (Cave of Tyron). This cave was used by the Crusaders and the Mamluks to control the vital road linking Saïda to the Bekaa valley (it also became famous as the refuge ...Read More

Bater Bater is on the Barouk River Valley Trail and famous for its church, its old 19th and early 20th century houses such as the Hamdan house, and for the old water mill which was still functioning until the early 1980s. Bater is also well known for its water springs ...Read More

Jebaa Many natural elements, places, and monuments contribute to the reputation of Jebaa: its oak and pine forests known by the inhabitants as the Roman woodland, an old grape press cut into the rock, the natural caves, the water sources of Ain Chaachouh and Ain el Dayaa, and tombs in ...Read More

Mrosti The village square in Mrosti is famous for the statue of Kamal Beik Joumblatt, the renowned old oak woods and the Ottoman bridge. There is also an old grape press and three natural springs: Ain el Ghabeh, Ain el Tahta, and Jeita Spring. The Jeita Spring is considered blessed ...Read More

Haret Jandal Haret Jandal is on the Barouk River Valley Trail and is known for its very old oak trees located in the center of the village and its old olive tree in the El Basatine area. One can also visit architectural and archaeological monuments such as the 19th century house ...Read More

Amatour Amatour is on the Barouk River Valley Trail and boasts a Roman temple located outside the village in the Marj Bisri area. It is also renowned for its beautiful traditional houses and characteristic gates dating from the Ottoman period such as Dar Bou Hamza (1215H/1800 AD), Dar Ahmad Ali ...Read More